Hepatitis-B toll rises to 16 in Gujarat sub-district

Ahmedabad, Feb 15 (IANS) With four more deaths Sunday, the toll following hepatitis-B virus infection in Modasa sub-district in Gujarat has gone up to 16, officials said. Police complaints have been lodged against seven medical practitioners for irregularities which might have led to the spread of the virus.

“The four deaths were reported from Modasa taluka,” said district health official H.F. Patel.

First information reports (FIRs) have been registered against seven registered medical practitioners (RMPs) of Modasa, Talod and Dhansura talukas of Sabarkantha district under different clauses of Medical Act.

“We investigated the premises of 10 RMPs of which seven have been found guilty of irregularities,” H.F. Patel said.

Samples of syringes and other equipments from different medical practitioners have been taken to ensure that proper medical norms were being observed.

There is visible panic in neighbouring sub-districts of Modasa town of Sabarkantha district fearing the spread of the virus after cases of infection began a week ago.

“Some people in Modasa town have already left their homes and gone to Himmatnagar and other nearby places to live with their relatives and friends,” said a local.

Modasa and Dhansura talukas have 34 patients admitted to various hospitals.